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Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – Eugene police say they cited 18 people and arrested two more for trespassing last night during a demonstration by homeless activists at a downtown courthouse plaza. Police say organizers with the group called SLEEPS discussed their plans at Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza, including the intention of some to be arrested after it closed at 11 p.m. Most of the 100 people who attended left by the deadline.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – T-Mobile officials say the company plans to hire 130 full-time customer service reps to staff its Salem call center. The Statesman Journal reports the company plans an open house tomorrow at its Salem customer care center to fill the positions. T-Mobile hopes to fill the job openings by March.

OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) – Clackamas County sheriff’s deputies have rescued a small, black chow-mix dog that got stranded on an island in the Clackamas River near Oregon City yesterday afternoon. At first the 30-pound dog took off swimming, but was finally corralled and loaded onto a sheriff’s boat where it calmed down for a ride to shore. Dog services workers are trying to find its owner.

ST. LOUIS (AP) – The annual United Van Lines migration study has found that Oregon has the nation’s second-highest percentage of people moving in. The moving company tracks the states its customers move to and from over the course of a year. Oregon is second only to Washington, D.C.

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Athlete of the Week

Richard Huff

The Junior wrestler claimed victory on the mats at 120 pounds last week in dual meets against Reedsport and North Bend, then finished 2nd at the Cascade High School Perry Burlison classic, winning his first three matches by decision before falling in the championship match.

Honorable mention is given to Viking forward Jakob Hickson who led scoring with 15 points in the Vikings’ season opening victory over the Creswell Bulldogs.

Viking Sports Talk

Coast Radio’s Our Town

The traditional methods employed by local governments to attract and develop new businesses are changing. One method being employed is by making the community as attractive and “livable” as possible says Florence’s Economic Development Coordinator. Kelli Weese says using public art can make the community stand out as well as make it more attractive to someone looking to relocate and bring new jobs with them.

Weese, along with the chair of the city’s Public Art Committee, Harlen Springer, will be on the August edition of Coast Radio’s Our Town to talk about how they’re hoping to create several pockets of public art throughout the community. City Councilor Joshua Greene will also be on the panel.

This month’s Our Town will also feature several other conversations, including two related to athletics at Siuslaw High School. Chris Johnson, a long time Cross Country and Track & Field coach at Siuslaw was recently named the athletic director. He’ll talk about the upcoming induction ceremony for the Siuslaw High School Athletic Hall of Fame. In a separate segment, newly appointed head football coach, Jamin Pool will talk about the pressures of taking over a highly successful program that has only had two other coaches over the past 50 years. Pool, who describes himself as a football fanatic, says he feels confident that he’ll be able to live up to expectiations.

Meg Spencer is one of 8 “Siuslaw Vision Keepers”, a group that has been working with several different community groups over the past 18 months to develop a common vision for what our region could look like over the next ten years. She and the others have become the core growth that grew out of the Siuslaw Pathways project, aimed at identifying several key projects and goals for the community. She’ll talk about some of those goals, including increasing access to local transportation and health care; creating community centers; and the possible creation of a regional parks and recreation department.

The other segment in Our Town this week will feature Lane Community College Florence Center director Russ Pierson and LCC’s director of financial aid Helen Faith. They’ll talk about the “Oregon Promise”, recent legislative efforts to increase low or no cost college for high school graduates in Oregon. Pierson says it’s a complicated process and it takes a lot of work and study to make it work. He and Faith will also talk about other financial options for incoming students.

It’s all sponsored by Andy Baber of Edward Jones Investments; Holloway and Associates CPA’s; the Archives Photo Restoration Specialists, Lane Community College in Florence, Siuslaw Public Library and PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center. It airs on KCST, FM 106.9, the first Wednesday of each month between 4:00 and 6:00 PM; then again the next morning on KCFM, AM1250-FM 104.1 from 10:00 AM to noon.